Could be a really cool week for Random Encounter. We're trying to line up another developer interview and we've got an episode devoted to character classes in the works. Send us some emails, too! I'd like to get another listener mail section into the next show. Hopefully should have something by the end of the week!

on the subject of persistent pets and minions, I dislike them mainly because of how many wipes I've experienced in WoW caused by pets accidentally aggroing something they shouldn't. I'm all about more customization and uniqueness in terms of classes though and that's the strong suit of the Ogre Battle series. If people haven't played Ogre Battle 64, find a way to play it, customizing your units and characters was just such a joy in that game. It's actually one of the things I kind of didn't like in Final Fantasy Tactics, since everyone could just learn everything and it kind of kills the uniqueness of the classes. I would have liked it if they just sorta locked you into class progressions or maybe put limitations on the skills classes could use. But yeah, shadowrun returns pretty hype, been awhile since we got a good turn based isometric cyberpunk game.

Side note, I'm in favor of tanking myself, played a tank warrior in DA origins(my friends were all"why would you want to play a tank in a single player game?"), enhancement/elemental shaman in WoW off-tanking, rammus and malphite in LoL, guardian in GW2 and I'll probably try to tank in 14 if I end up going back to it.

Infiltrator in ME1 was awesome. You just need to put explosive rounds + damage mods on your sniper.Your rifle overheats after each shot, but that shot is so stupidly powerful, it can one-shot the last boss if you activate assassination.You basically end up seeing 3 Geth Prime running towards you and snipe the one in the middle and they all die with their corpses flying off.

On new game+ you can have the fastest pistol on an infiltrator with heat that's so low you can fire it infinitely even with the best damage mods (except explosive rounds, but even then, you have about 6 shots of those before you overheat)

My favorite classes in western RPGs always have summons or auras. Ranged vs. melee vs. spells doesn't really matter as long as I can approach a mob, summon my guys and set up my buffs/debuffs, then clean house. Barbarian, Druid, and Necromancer were my three favorite Diablo II classes and I really enjoy all four classes in TL2 because all of those have summon AND aura options (except for the D2 Barbarian, whose war shouts and look I love).

I should also mention: I overwhelmingly prefer tribal/shamanistic looks over gothic/medieval looks. I avoid knight/paladin/holy characters in general as a result. Couldn't tell you way exactly, just a personal preference. And I use male and female characters almost equally, since I care much more about class. If I have the option, I go with my whim. If I'm playing something for the second time, I'll usually try the sex I didn't use the first time.

Favorite class ever: Samurai from Final Fantasy Tactics. Blade Grasp is so strong it feels unfair. Draw Out consists of decent-to-awesome offensive and defensive skills that require no charge time or MP usage and are immune to Brave or Faith effects. That way you can create a low-Faith character with offense, defense, and support skills that can use MP for MP Switch. Giving Draw Out to a Wizard, Priest, Oracle, or Summoner is the ****ing greatest.

Least-favorite class ever: Battle Suits from Disgaea 4. I love most of the Disgaea 4 classes and characters, but Battle Suits are just lame. They're decent fighters, but automatically self-destruct when their HP goes below 10%. I've had one at full health gain 40 levels after one attack, have its HP below 10% as a result of its new max HP, and then die. **** Battle Suits.

Least-favorite class ever: Battle Suits from Disgaea 4. I love most of the Disgaea 4 classes and characters, but Battle Suits are just lame. They're decent fighters, but automatically self-destruct when their HP goes below 10%. I've had one at full health gain 40 levels after one attack, have its HP below 10% as a result of its new max HP, and then die. **** Battle Suits.

Haha - that is tragically hilarious. I must have never created one of them...

Least-favorite class ever: Battle Suits from Disgaea 4. I love most of the Disgaea 4 classes and characters, but Battle Suits are just lame. They're decent fighters, but automatically self-destruct when their HP goes below 10%. I've had one at full health gain 40 levels after one attack, have its HP below 10% as a result of its new max HP, and then die. **** Battle Suits.

Haha - that is tragically hilarious. I must have never created one of them...

Yeah, their requirements are on the high side, so most people don't create Battle Suits or Androids unless they delve into the post-game. But seriously **** Battle Suits.

I'll listen to the new cast tomorrow at work, probably. Depends on whether I have an office day or field work.